Garuda's B-CAN Ingredient GRAS

EXETER, Calif.Garuda International Inc. announced its B-CAN oat bran concentrate/oat beta-glucan was self affirmed GRAS by an expert panel convened by GRAS Associates. The GRAS dossier and intended food use conditions include addition of B-CAN at levels that yield 0.75 to 3.0 g of beta-glucan per serving in food categories including bars, beverages, baked goods, gravies and sauces, soups, salad dressings and more. According to the company, the ingredient can also be incorporated into medical foods at levels not to exceed 3.0 g beta-glucan per day.

Roger Matkin, president and CEO, said, "We are very pleased with this GRAS status and feel that this move will enable food and beverage manufacturers in the United States and internationally, to offer healthier consumer products formulated with B-CAN."

On the international level, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) expressed a positive health claim opinion under Article 14 claims related to oat beta-glucan for cholesterol reduction, with an effect at 3 g/d and a positive claim allowed on foods that provide at least 1 g of oat beta-glucan per quantified portion. Bassam Faress, director of sales and marketing at Garuda International, commented: "This EFSA positive development now paves the way for even more familiarity with the benefits of oat beta-glucan. European food manufacturers can legally make the much deserved health claims at the applicable minimal doses identified by the EFSA for food and beverages including cereals, soups, dairy, bakery and beverage application."

Garuda currently supplies B-CAN at a high concentration of 70-percent beta-glucan as conventional and EC Organically Certified.  This innovative, healthy ingredient will be shown by Garuda International at booth #21029 at SupplySide West.